Water-based compositions that resist dirt pick-up

Abstract

Water-based compositions containing a low VOC coalescent, a latex or water-dispersible polymer, and a water-insoluble UV-VIS (preferably, ultraviolet) absorber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water-based composition, comprising:
 a latex polymer; 
 methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate; and 
 one or more low VOC coalescents having a volatile organic content of 30% or less, or that elute from a GC column at the same time or after methyl palmitate under the same conditions; 
 wherein the composition includes no greater than 50 grams of total VOC per 100 grams polymer solids. 
 
     
     
       2. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the latex polymer has at least one Tg within a range of −20° C. to 70° C. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the latex polymer comprises the polymerization product of ethylenically unsaturated monomers selected from the group of alkyl acrylates, alkoxy acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, alkoxy methacrylates, vinyl esters of saturated carboxylic acids, monoolefins, and conjugated dienes optionally with one or more monomers, selected from the group of styrene, methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, and vinyl chloride. 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the latex polymer comprises a surfactant and polymer particles comprising a homopolymer or copolymer including at least one of an acrylate or a methacrylate. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the water-based composition comprises at least 0.1 wt-% of methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on the weight of the polymer solids. 
     
     
       6. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the water-based composition comprises up to 5.0 wt-% of methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on the weight of the polymer solids. 
     
     
       7. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the one or more coalescents are present in a sufficient amount to facilitate the formation of a polymer film of the latex polymer at a temperature of less than 25° C. 
     
     
       8. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition includes no greater than 20 grams of total VOC per 100 grams polymer solids. 
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the latex polymer is present in an amount of 10 wt-% to 25 wt-%, based on solids. 
     
     
       10. The composition of  claim 1  which is a paint. 
     
     
       11. A water-based composition, comprising:
 a latex polymer, having at least one Tg within a range of −20° C. to 70° C.; 
 methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate in an amount of 0.1 wt-% to 5.0 wt-%, based on the weight of the polymer solids; and 
 one or more low VOC coalescents that elutes from a GC column at the same time or after methyl palmitate under the same conditions; 
 wherein the composition includes no greater than 20 grams of total VOC per 100 grams polymer solids. 
 
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the latex polymer has at least one Tg within a range of −10° C. to 30° C. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the latex polymer comprises the polymerization product of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising acetoacetyl ethyl methacrylate (AAEM), diacetone acrylamide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the latex polymer comprises a surfactant and polymer particles comprising a copolymer including at least one of an acrylate or a methacrylate. 
     
     
       15. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the water-based composition comprises at least 0.1 wt-% of the one or more UV-VIS absorbers, based on the weight of the polymer solids. 
     
     
       16. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the water-based composition comprises at least 0.3 wt-% and up to 1.5 wt-% of methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on the weight of the polymer solids. 
     
     
       17. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition includes no greater than 10 grams of total VOC per 100 grams polymer solids. 
     
     
       18. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the latex polymer is present in an amount of 10 wt-% to 25 wt-%, based on solids. 
     
     
       19. The composition of  claim 17  which is a paint. 
     
     
       20. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition does not include benzophenone. 
     
     
       21. The composition of  claim 1  comprising a sufficient amount of methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate to improve dirt pick-up resistance of the composition by at least 10%, relative to the same composition without the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on a change in ΔE values. 
     
     
       22. The composition of  claim 1  comprising a sufficient amount of methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate to improve dirt pick-up resistance of the composition by at least 50%, relative to the same composition without the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on a change in ΔE values. 
     
     
       23. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate improves dirt pick-up resistance of the composition by at least 10%, relative to the same composition without the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on a change in ΔE values. 
     
     
       24. The composition of  claim 11  wherein the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate improves dirt pick-up resistance of the composition by at least 50%, relative to the same composition without the methyl-o-benzoyl benzoate, based on a change in ΔE values.